One terrorist still at large
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15
The third suspected terrorist who managed to escape while two of his alleged accomplices were killed in the early morning encounter near Tughlaqabad on Saturday continued to elude the police dragnet. Teams of Delhi Police and intelligence officials had fanned out to scour the neighbouring states for the suspect, believed to be armed and dangerous. He had managed to escape taking advantage of the dim morning light.

Senior police and intelligence officials said that the arrest of the suspect was vital as he could give details of terrorist modules functioning in the country and also help establish the identity of the two slain ultras believed to be Pakistanis and active members of the Lakshar-e-Toiba.

Efforts were continuing to identify them. The bodies are being preserved in a mortuary after the post-mortem examination which confirmed the cause of death by bullets.

The escape of the third suspect is causing concern among the top security officials here who feel that he may join up with some other sympathisers and lie low for a while before striking again. Sources within the Special Cell of the Delhi Police said that efforts were also being made to trace the route which the Maruti Zen vehicle, used by the suspects, had taken before it entered the Capital from the Faridabad side near Tughlaqabad. The car, seized by the police after the encounter, was being driven with fake registration number plates. Efforts were being made to establish the ownership of the vehicle to help identify the suspects.

The photographs, fingerprints and description of the two suspects were being sent to all the state police headquarters for circulation to help identify them. The two AK 47 assault rifles, hand grenades and ammunition recovered from the terrorists are being examined by forensic experts to help ascertain their origin. While the police were reluctant to comment, sources said that the markings on the weapons indicated that they were from a neighbouring country. The police do not rule out the possibility of the suspects having established base in one of the satellite cities in the neighbouring state to carry out their operation.

The intelligence agencies which had tipped off the Special Cell of the Delhi Police are helping in the investigations. A large number of persons had already been questioned.

NCERT gives itself full marks
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15
Having delivered the first batch of textbooks prepared in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2002, the NCERT is gloating over its achievements. This, despite the fact that the contents of certain books caused a furore among certain sections.

Ahead of its 39th annual general meeting, scheduled to be held in the Capital on December 16, the Council has gone on record claiming the past year to be a ‘landmark year’.

NCERT Director J S Rajput said, “This is a landmark year for us. Not only for the fact that we entered the fifth decade, but also because we saw the implementation of a new NCFSE after a lapse of 12 years.”

He added, “An overwhelming consensus was struck among the stakeholders in the country’s education that the specific problems of the 21st century cannot be addressed with the worn-out ideas on education. Accordingly, a new approach based on values and drawing the synergies offered by technological progress is needed.”

The Council’s report card, which will be assessed tomorrow, lists various activities, which have been undertaken in the last academic year. These include a special orientation programme for schoolteachers organised in collaboration with government agencies, projects on girl child education and development of modules for teacher educators in value education.

Taken in by the zest to improve the education scenario in the country, the NCERT paid special attention to the need to include value education in schools across the country. Religious leaders and academicians were roped in to help spread the Council’s message of value-based education.

The Council, which was charged with aiding the government in their alleged bid to saffronise education had to submit their defence in the Supreme Court before they could print the History and Hindi textbooks prepared for the new academic session 2002.

Though delayed, the books are finally in the market having earned the go-ahead from the Supreme Court and being recommended by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

“The new books published by the NCERT in all subjects have been well received by the teaching community. We have received positive feedback from all sections of teachers, students and their parents. Their suggestions for further improvement of the texts are in the process of implementation,” claimed the Director.

The NCERT has declared the launch of a project to update statistics pertaining to school education in the country. “This project, which enables a census on school education in the country, will be carried out in collaboration with the SCERT,” pointed out Prof. Rajput adding, “This will enable the government to have a bird’s-eye view on the state of school education.”

The AGM, which will be chaired by the Union Minister of Human Resources Development, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, comprises education ministers and former government officials. It will review the projects undertaken by the Council.

Casino not as black as it is being painted, feels CM
Abhay Jain

Gurgaon, December 15
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, said that starting casino facilities in the state would fetch a good revenue besides providing employment opportunities to the unemployed in the state.

The opposition parties, he felt, are misleading the masses by announcing that opening of casinos would mislead the youth into gambling. He claimed that the casinos, which would be launched soon in the state, would not be exactly gambling dens, but a place where people from different walks of life can enjoy and entertain themselves.

Speaking to the media persons here today at Tara Energy and Research Institute (TERI) ground, where a cricket match was played between the parliamentarians and TERI, Mr Chautala said that the opposition parties are not living up their part as constructive critics of the ruling party.

The opposition parties boycotted the Assembly whenever the Casino Bill was discussed. Now these parties, including the Congress, were making a hue and cry just to gain political mileage, he added.

The state government intends to open the centres where world-class entertainment facilities are provided. “We would develop a place where senior citizens can relax, children can enjoy various rides and games, women can sit and gossip and the rich can play,” clarified Mr Chautala.

And when would such casinos become functional in the state? He said that global tenders had been invited for them, but did not disclose the probable date.

Mr Chautala said that the Supreme Court’s order to ban mining in the Aravalli Hills would amount to a loss of more than Rs 200 crore to the state exchequer annually. The state government had already filed a review petition in the honourable court, revealed the CM.

He said that the state government started the process of auctioning the mines and increased its revenue manifolds after adopting the new procedure.

He stated an example of a mine in Tosham which had an annual turnover of just Rs 5 lakh, but it was auctioned for Rs 1.5 crore for the year.

The closure of these mines would mean that all the workers would be rendered jobless and machinery worth crores of rupees would lie in waste. This would also lead to shortage of raw material for construction of roads, houses and buildings.

‘With you, for you’ police operation, Haryana-style
Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, December 15
It appears that the Haryana policemen have confined themselves to the formality of holding meetings and maintaining records in the name of ‘Operation Sadhbhavna’. The operation was launched recently by the police department to refurbish its image.

The majority of people are unaware of the ‘campaign’. Those who are in the know feel that such operations cannot be effective until there is a major change in the functioning of the department itself.

Hardly a day passes without holding meetings in different parts of the district and town, but such meetings are just a formality and nothing concrete is achieved, said a resident, who has attended a couple of meetings.

He said that he had helped organise one of the meetings recently as a police official known to him had asked him to do so. He felt that the common man may put his trust in police only if he feels that they are considerate to the sorry plight of the common man and act promptly without expecting any favours.

Rajkumar Gaur, a political activist of Ajronda village, said that it was imperative that the police force concentrates on improving the functioning of the department rather than launch operations like ‘Sadhbhavna’.

He said that strict action should be taken against the corrupt and inefficient police officials and suggested that the administration should form organisations representing residents and Residents Welfare Association (RWA).

The police should take their help in tackling petty crimes, he suggested. The SHO or DSP of a region could hold a monthly meeting with these bodies to discuss the issues concerning the law and order.

He went on to claim that that the police department is always busy in VIP duties which has led to a rise in crime chart in the town recently.

Ridiculing ‘Operation Sadhbhawna’, a resident of Sector 16A, said that while the police made tall claims of the success of the operation, he had noticed policemen on duty misbehaving with the motorists during the visit of the Chief Minister here yesterday.

When a scooterist asked a policeman about the cause of traffic jam at Neelam Chowk, the policeman snubbed him and told him rudely to keep off the spot.

Ajay Kumar, another resident, said he was not aware of such an operation.

He said that if at all such operations were being conducted, they were only an exercise to complete the official records. If the police honestly wanted to change their image, they must do the groundwork, he said.

Improve educational and intellectual level of policemen, wipe out the ‘nexus’ between police and criminals and to cap it boost the sagging morale of the cops, only then can the faith of the common man in police be restored, said the resident.

Shoe unit catches fire, property worth lakhs gutted
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15
Property worth lakhs of rupees was destroyed in a devastating fire which broke out in a shoe factory in Peeragarhi area in Udyogvihar this afternoon. However, no loss of life was reported in the incident.

The fire broke out in a three-storeyed building which housed the shoe factory in the industrial area. It started in ground floor where leather worth lakhs was stored for manufacturing shoes and sleepers. The smoke emanating from the floor was noticed by a watchmen employed by the factory owners in the area. He informed the Delhi Fire Service as well as the owner of the factory.

The DFS rushed 25 fire tenders to douse the fire which took almost four hours to control it. By the time the fire tenders reached the factory area, the fire had engulfed the entire building. The first and second floor were packed with shoes which caught fire within minutes. As the factory was locked from outside because of weekly off day today, the DFS personnel had to make a number of holes in the walls to sprinkle water on the fire inside the building. The hole making in the walls proved very time-consuming, an official of the DFS said.

He said that no casualty was reported in the incident as there was nobody in the factory. A large number of residents gathered around the building while the DFS personnel were busy in controlling the fire. According to preliminary inquiry, short circuit could be the cause of fire, a DFS man said.

Eight DMRC coaches arrive in Delhi
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has received eight new coaches from South Korea. The consignment reached New Delhi on Sunday. After these new coaches are put through trials, the DMRC will commission them into service on the Shahdara-Tis Hazari section that will begin ferrying commuters on December 24.

The DMRC now has 24 coaches that will be run as six trains of four coaches each. When the Shahdara-Tis Hazari section is opened to commuters, the trains will be run every eight minutes.

The DMRC says the frequency of a train every eight minutes will gradually be increased to one every three minutes but not before 2005 when Phase I of Delhi Metro becomes operational.

The DMRC says 240 coaches will be put into service for Phase I of Delhi Metro with gradual indigenisation of its manufacture. The Delhi Metro trains are supposed to be among the most modern trains of their kind in any metro worldwide. These trains can accelerate from zero to 80 km per hour in 65 seconds.

Each train can carry 1,500 passengers. The Delhi Metro is expected to ferry 60,000 passengers per hour in one direction making it one of the most effective public transport systems in the world.

Bombastic Chautala befooling people: JD(U)
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 15
The President of the Haryana Pradesh Janata Dal (U), Mr Ved Prakash Vidrohi, has condemned the announcement of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, with regard to the deregularisation of unauthorised residential colonies and described it as a joke on the people living in them.

In a signed press statement issue here today, he alleged that Mr Chautala was in the habit of befooling the people of the state on some pretext or the other. He said the people were fed up with his style of functioning during the past three years.

He demanded immediate issuance of a white paper regarding the decision which was taken to regularise the unauthorised colonies, which was subsequently withdrawn. He said most of the people living in these colonies had deposited development charges to the municipal committees concerned. He wanted to know what action would be done towards returning this sum to them.

Referring to funds being sought from the central government for drinking water in the Mewat region and the southern parts of the state, the Janata Dal leader said Mr Chautala had repeatedly claimed that the state government was providing 70 litres of water per head per day to the people of the state. Yet, he had demanded Rs 350 crore from the central government for providing drinking water in the Mewat region and another Rs 300 crore for the southern parts of the state.

Mr Chautala, he said, had justified his demand for central assistance by highlighting the drought-like conditions prevailing on account of lack of monsoon and winter rains this year and the unprecedented damage caused to the standing kharif crops in the state.

He said the dual policy adopted by Mr Chautala had exposed him on this issue as his claim about the supply of 70 litres water per head per day was a hoax.

Mr Vidrohi urged Mr Chautala not to mislead the people and the central government on this issue otherwise he would be eliminated from the political scene.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON SONEPAT
Hooda gives call for peaceful struggle
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 15
Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, has demanded a high-level probe into the recruitment of employees in Chaudhary Devi Lal Mills at Ahulana village in this district.

Addressing the rural gathering at Ahulana village, about 50 km from here, yesterday, he called upon the people not to take the law in their hands and instead wage a peaceful struggle against the injustice done to them. He said the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had backed out of the promise made by him to the people of the village that they would get employment on priority basis. On the contrary, the mill management had recruited the employees from outside. This had resulted in the villagers holding angry protests.

He assured the villagers that the Congress would back their demands and extend its support to them for getting justice form the state government.

Mr Azad Singh Nehra, HPCC secretary, and Mrs Sumitra Chauhan, general secretary of the HPCC, also extended their unstinted support to the agitating village people on this issue. He condemned the state government and the management of the sugar mill for recruiting employees from outside, in the process ignoring the residents of the village.

In a separate press statement issued here, they alleged that the Chief Minister had lost the confidence of the people and he had no right to remain in power. They claimed that the Congress would get absolute majority in the next assembly elections and form its own government in the state. They said that the people of the state were fed up with the Chautala government and they wanted a change in the government at the earliest.

Meanwhile, tension continues to persist in the village and the police are guarding the mill as a precautionary measure. Many residents alleged that the village had been converted into a police cantonment and they were being harassed by the police. They demanded immediate withdrawal of criminal cases instituted against them by the police. They also resolved to continue their agitation till their demands were accepted by the government.

TV sets, fridges burnt as power lines get entangled
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 15
A large number of electronic goods, including colour TV sets, fridges, bulbs and tubes were burnt in the houses falling under the jurisdiction of Kumahran Gate Power House here yesterday after transmission lines got entangled with each other.

According to a report, the consumers have suffered a huge financial loss on this account. Officials of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) arrived on the scene immediately after getting information and rectified the fault within a few hours. However, Mohalla Kalan, Ram Bazar and Ganj Bazar remained powerless for about five hours and this caused great inconvenience to thousands of people living in these areas.

Houses demolished: The officials of the administration pressed into service some JCB machines and demolished at least five houses and other unauthorised structures at Rai village, about 12 km from here, on Saturday.

According to a report, the officials did not demolish unauthorised houses and structures of those people who had obtained stay orders from various courts. Meanwhile, residents of the village have blamed the officials for adopting a discriminatory attitude in demolishing the houses and other structures in the village.

HVP demonstration: The Haryana Vikas Party has decided to organise a massive demonstration on December 27 here to protest against the passing of the Casino Bill by the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.

According to a report, Mr Surinder Singh, a former member of Parliament and the secretary-general of the HVP, would lead the demonstration. Thousands of party workers are likely to take part in this demonstration.

All-party call for Panipat bandh
Our Correspondent

Panipat, December 15
In protest against the threat to kill Mr Sanjay Bhatia, Chairman of the Municipal Council, Panipat, allegedly issued by four persons, an all-party action committee, at its meeting here yesterday decided to observe a bandh in the city on Monday. Mr Bhatia lodged a complaint with the police yesterday against a property dealer, Maha Singh, and three others, alleging that on Friday they had threatened to kill him before January 1 next year. The reason for this alleged threat being issued is stated to be a piece of 1552 square yards of disputed land in the local Netaji Colony. The council is planning to appeal in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the judgement of the Commissioner and the Secretary, Local Bodies Department. A delegation of prominent citizens of the town also met the Deputy Commissioner, Mr M.R. Anand, and apprised him of the threat. The DC has asked the Superintendent of Police, Ms Mamta Singh, to take necessary action and provide security to Mr Bhatia. The latter has reportedly refused to have a security guard.

Brick kiln owner robbed

Rohtak: Three armed youths robbed a brick kiln owner of nearly Rs 1.47 lakh at Khidwali village on Saturday evening.

According to sources, three miscreants reached the brick kiln of Anand Prakash on a motorcycle at around 9.30 pm and directed him to hand over the cash to them. They attacked him when he refused and escaped with the cash. When the villagers came to know about the incident, they chased the robbers. However, the robbers managed to escape leaving behind the motorcycle.

BHIWANI
Two youths hurt

Bhiwani, December 15
Two youths reportedly were injured in a road accident near village Kaliyana on Saturday. According to a report, a truck, which was going to Delhi, collided with a trailor near Kaliana village. The cleaner of the trailor Shiv Singh (27) sustained injuries. He was admitted to a civil hospital at Charkhi Dadri.

Save energy day: The National Energy Preservation Day was organised by the District Rural Development Agency at local TIT institution on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr R. P. Gupta. The students and teachers of the institution took oath for saving energy checking the misuse of energy.

An exhibition of solar energy equipment was also organised by the DRDA.

Addressing the students, Mr Gupta said that there were limited sources of energy in the country and the consumption was increasing in proportion to the population. We, particularly youths, should give special attention on saving of energy.

He told that the state government was encouraging non-conventional energy sources keeping in view that the savings of conventional energy sources like coal, oil, power, fuel and gas in the light of increasing demand of energy every day through District Rural Development Agency.

Under the programme, stress is given to the use of solar energy, bio-energy, air-energy etc by creating awareness among people, he said adding that the use of non-conventional energy sources and constrained use of conventional energy sources not only saved energy but also kept our environment clean and safe.

He told that the agency provide various equipment based on non-conventional energy sources on subsidy.

Mr Gupta said that solar lantern, solar cooker, solar domestic light; solar water heating system and several other equipment were being provided on subsidy under combined rural energy programme by the agency.

The agriculture department assists farmers to set up biogas plants to save cooking gas.

He said that the raw material of cowdung used in the biogas plant converted into excellent manure gave better produce.

The Principal, Mr Satya Bhushan Sindolia, said that if we made habit of saving power, diesel and petrol besides energy, we could meet all kinds of challenges in future.

Assistant Project Officer of the Agency, Mr Sunil Sharma, informed that solar-run equipment could be helpful for irrigation by installing it on the tubewells.

He said that the agency gave subsidy for solar energy tubewells. Such tubewell could easily lift water from 30-35 feet level. Those present on the occasion were: Mr Uday Singh Yadav, accounts officer, Mr K. K. Varshney, APO Duda and Principal of Vocational Education Institution Surender Singh.

Body found: Police recovered a body of an 18-year-old-girl from the Moolchand pond today. She was identified as Sonu, resident of Krishan Pranami Ashram area.

According to the sources, Sonu, daughter of Ram Kumar, had been missing for the last three days.

Her parents had fixed her marriage.

NCR BRIEFS
Four of a family killed

Sonepat: Four members of a family were reportedly killed last night by some unidentified armed persons while they were asleep in their house at Lehrara village about 3 km from here.

The assailants managed to escape immediately after committing the ghastly crime.

The victims were identified as Rajesh, wife of Rajbir, her two sons, Vikram (11) and Vipin (8) and her three-year-old daughter, Sweety. Rajbir worked as a chowkidar in the new grain market of the city and was away on duty when the crime was committed. Theft is suspected to be the motive behind the crime. Rajbir had recently sold his land and it is believed that the killers got information about it.

The police have registered the case in this connection. Further investigations were in progress. The incident has caused panic among the residents of the village.

Lovelorn man kills beloved

Noida: In a weird incident, a youth, Tej Vir Singh, killed his beloved with an axe in Dankaur town. SP (Rural) Pushpak Jyoti said that Tej Vir Singh had an affair with an 18-year-old girl, Sanjawatti, daughter of Mohan Balmiki of Badan Mohalla, Dankaur. He had regarded her as his wife. Tej Vir Singh had also initiated a move for his wedlock with Sanjawatti but when the girl’s family objected, he became disheartened. Tej Singh had consumed much liquor before the incident.

On the fateful day, he saw Sanjawatti going to field with her mother. He lay in wait. At about 4 pm, when she was returning from the field with a bundle of firewood, he stopped her and struck axe blows on her breasts and then ripped open her stomach with axe. When her mother raised an alarm, people overpowered Tej Singh. Sanjawatti was declared brought dead in the hospital. Tej Vir Singh told the police that he was not at all sorry for having murdered his beloved. The accused, Tej Vir Singh, son of Kishori of Shivani, Bulandshahr, had come to meet his sister in Dankaur, the SP said.

Woman burnt to death

Faridabad: A married woman was burnt to death in Subhash Colony, Ballabgarh allegedly by her in-laws for not fulfilling their dowry demands.

Acting on the written complaint of the father of the victim, Ruby, the police have registered a case under Section 487A, 304A and 34 against the victim’s husband, Rishi Paul, father-in-law, Doji Ram and two sisters-in-law.

Her father alleged that an anonymous caller informed him on December 10 that his daughter had been burnt to death. He reached his daughter’s place and rushed her to Safdarjung Hospital in the Capital, where she succumbed to her burns. OC

CRIME

Currency racket unearthed, four held
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 15
With the arrest of four persons, the city police today claimed to have unearthed a fake currency racket. The four-member gang had been operating in parts of Haryana and Delhi since the past few months.

According to a report, the arrested persons have been identified as Parveen Kumar, alias Bunti, a son of Mr Mohan Lal Brahmin of Rishi Nagar, Rani Bagh, Delhi, Amit Kumar, alias Mitu, a son of Mr Ramesh Sachdeva of Rohini, Delhi, Dinesh Kumar, a son of Mr Pyare Lal Tiwari of Sarsava village, Jaunpur district of UP, and now living in Mangolpur Kalan, Delhi, and Bhagwan Kumar, a son of Banarsi Mauji, a resident of Maujigowa village in Chhapra district of Bihar, now living in Sector 15 of Sonepat.

The police have seized a large number of currency notes of Rs 100 denomination, a computer, a printer and other machines from their possession. Moreover, large number of Rs 100 notes printed on one side were also seized during the raids.

Giving details of the arrests, a spokesman of the Police Department told mediapersons here today that the police officials had got secret information about the suspicious movement of Dinesh Kumar in the Mamoon-Bhanja area of the city, who was trying to circulate fake currency notes of Rs 100 denomination.

Thereupon, the officials raided the place and apprehended him. The police officials also seized two currency notes of Rs 100 denomination from his possession.

The culprit, during the course of interrogation, told the police the names of the other three persons engaged in the manufacture of fake notes at Bhagwan Kumar’s house in Sector 15 here.

The police officials conducted a raid there and arrested all three who were present in the house. The police also seized fake currency notes and other machines from there.

The culprits also told the police that they had manufactured fake currency notes worth about Rs 30 lakh and circulated them at Hardwar, Dehra Dun, Mussouri, Nainital, Saharanpur and other places like Chandigarh, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Patna, Rathiahar, Purnia, Raniganj and Darbhanga.

Girl gangraped
Our Correspondent

Faridabad, December 15
The local police have arrested seven persons, including a manager of a guesthouse, on charge of gangraping a girl. According to the statement of the father of the girl, his daughter went to market for shopping and the shopkeeper took her to a nearby guesthouse where four persons raped her.

Later, the girl was taken to a house on Sector-22, where again she was gangraped under threats of being killed. Her father also alleged that when her daughter did not reach home after two days, he reported the matter to the police. Meanwhile, the girl managed to reach home and narrated the matter to the police.

On the complaint of her father, the police registered the case and arrested the alleged accused.

Two held for smuggling animals

Faridabad, December 15
The police have arrested two persons on account of smuggling animals for slaughtering and seized the truck carrying 14 buffaloes and 41calves. According to report, police checked the vehicles near village Barsana near Charkhi Dadri. The animals were dumped unkindly and condition of several calves was serious. The villagers unloaded the truck and serve water to the animals. A was registered against the accused. OC

Two youths hurt
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, December 15
Two persons were injured after being hit by a speeding escort vehicle of the Chief Minister’s motorcade near Hassanpur on Saturday. The victims were identified as Sher Singh and Prem Singh. They were travelling in an autorickshaw when a police van hit their vehicle resulting in their fall. Meanwhile, a 27-year-old youth was crushed to death by a truck on Rajiv Chowk here on Saturday.

SHOW CASE
Fast forward: Make ice in a jiffy with Icemagic
Tribune News Service

Whirlpool India has launched eight new refrigerator models in the country in both the frost-free as well as the direct cool segment. The company said these refrigerators were the country’s only fast forward ice system. At the heart of this advanced systems is the special button on the external electronic panel which, when pressed, makes the Icemagic work at its peak cooling capacity, helping make ice faster than ever before.

Home-makers’ pride: Glen India has launched an exclusive range of state-of-the-art cooktops, which have a triple ring burner and one-touch battery operated multi-spark auto ignition. This high-energy, high-efficiency burner cooks faster than the conventional burner, thus reducing cooking time. This feature is ideally suited for making chapatis and for deep-frying.

Foldable wheelchairs: Tecnomed India has launched electric wheelchairs for the physically disabled persons. They come with a very efficient joystick, which not only controls speed and direction, but also checks power and defects. The wheelchairs can move with a maximum speed of 20 km per hour and can go for 100-120 km on a single charge. They are also provided with anti-tipper with roller that prevents the wheelchair from turning over even when the slope is too high. They have pneumatic tyres that add shock absorption function. These wheelchairs can be folded, making it easier to store and carry them.

Winnie on clothes: Mahindra Intertrade has launched its Winnie the Pooh range of apparel for 0-8 year-olds. Available in bright and attractive colours, these apparel have Winnie the Pooh, a character immensely popular with children, on them.

Smart business aid: Palm Inc has introduced the Palm Tungsten T, a smart and pocketable business device. It has new processing power and a new operating system supercharge application, making it faster and more efficient. A high resolution 320x320 colour display delivers a great viewing experience and integrated bluetooth wireless communication capabilities enable users to communicate with other bluetooth enabled services such as printers, PCs and other handhelds.

Trendy shades: La Beaute, an extraordinary make-up line, has been unveiled at Dr Morepen’s Lifespring, Health and Beauty stores. The range is of dermatologically tested products targeted at glamorous and trendy women who seek high-quality fashionable shades at a reasonable price.

Colourful warmers: Gini & Jony has introduced an interesting range of sweaters and pullovers for both boys and girls from two years onwards. They come in an extensive colour palette to suit everybody’s taste. While girls get to wear all pinks, purples, yellows, reds, boys can dress up in blues, greens, maroons, oranges, blacks and a lot more.

Long live, batteries!: Arrow International has launched Olio, a digital battery life enhancer for all types of wet cell, dry cell and gel cell lead acid batteries. The product supplies an electronically controlled pulse (a heartbeat) to the battery to stop sulphation and remove large deposits of crystallised lead sulphate, which reduces internal resistance and recharge time, resulting in increased battery life and capacity.

Designs on napkins: Wintex has launched ‘designer napkins’ to meet the requirement of customers for their special occasions. With 100 different designs in various colours, every napkin bears a theme like Christmas, cocktail parties, birthday parties and many more, which could suit any décor and occasion.

Contemporary watches: Sonata has introduced a range of exclusive water-resistant watches in fibre for both men and women. The watches are water-resistant till the depth of 30 metres. The new range is contemporary and can be worn to the gym, college as well as during an evening out. The watches for men have a sporty look and come with a value-added feature of a date. The ladies’ collection includes oval and kite-shaped dials, designed with intricate flower and check motifs that add to the ornate look of the watches.

Goodness of soups: MTR Foods has launched soup concentrates in four exciting varieties. Consumers can enjoy the natural and healthy goodness of Simply Tomato soup, Spicy Tomato soup, Mulligatawny soup and Spinach and Carrot soup. The soup concentrates do not contain mono sodium glutamate, or ajinomoto, as it is popularly called, a chemical used widely in packaged food and a known health hazard.

Crystal collectibles: Swarovsi has unveiled the final collection for 2002 within their silver crystal range of products. The new collection includes flamingo, marmot and jester. Flamingo from the feathered friends family cuts a good figure in Swarovski’s new trend colour, pink, while the jester from fairy tales theme vies for attention with its witty and smiling expression. Marmot, a burrowing colonial rodent, is a welcome addition to the woodland friends’ family.

Stylish timekeeper: Maxima has introduced digital watches sub-branded as ACG Watches. The texture and designs are accurately cut to make a style statement. The accurate stopwatch is specially useful during events, sports and activities. A guarantee of water resistance till a depth of 30 metres with a stopwatch is good news for swimmers.

Elegance personified: Rado has launched an elegant collection, “Sintra Gold”. The collection is distinguished by its characteristic straight lines and its clear, pure, no-frills personality sets it apart from regular models available in the market. The watch, made from scratchproof high-tech ceramics, enhanced by 18-carat gold and protected by resistant sapphire crystal, the “Sintra” is perfect for any and every occasion.

Pen for connoisseurs: Linc Pen and Plastics have introduced a stylish ball pen named Silvesta for connoisseurs. A striking pen with a silver body colour, it comes in three colour inks – blue, black and red — with a 0.6 mm tip.

Ayurvedic products: Mayar India has showcased a wide array of ayurvedic and herbal products under its brand name, the Sivananda range of ayurvedic and herbal preparation. The products include lal dant manjan, bal chyawanprabha, special chyawanprash, hair oil, anti-stress capsules and a range of personal care products.